When you’re new to the running community, it’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed and intimidated by all the jargon you hear other runners using. This honestly could apply to all sports and even life in general, but how do you get to the point of knowing as much as some of these long time athletes? Well, it’s key to remember that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It takes time, patience and a willingness to learn all the different terms that come with the running community. But fear not! Twin City Track Club is here to help. This article will be part of a larger series aimed at helping you break down and understand jargon, lingo, and etiquette used in the runner’s community so you can come in feeling more experienced and avoid acting like a “Track-hole”. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun but utterly redundant and confusing nature of this runner writing extravaganza.
One thing to bear in mind about the running community is everyone is different. Everyone has different things that do or do not work for them. There are a multitude of different guides and resources out there that are passed around and used many times over. This is great for some, not so much for others. It’s important to know that what works for the goose may not work for the gander, and that is okay. That being said, with so many resources available to the community, this creates a lot of diversity in terms and meanings. It also means a lot of overlap. There may be some terms used in one article that weren’t in another. Perhaps the author wasn’t familiar enough with the term to have used it, perhaps they didn’t think it applied. Whatever the reason, it does not mean it is not important. This community is vast and extensive so keep in mind that there also may be terms that sound very similar to each other. If you have questions or thoughts as you read these articles, please send them to us at [email protected].
Also, keep an eye on our social media channels. This series is on the go and we intend to ask community members themselves questions on the topics, terms, and lingo they either know about or want to learn about. If you have an interest in being part of this experience, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We hope you find this educational and useful as you get out there on the road, trails, and track this summer!